Austin Matthews
Austin David George Matthews
Born: 3 May 1904, Penarth, Glamorgan, Wales
Died: 29 July 1977, Penrhyn Bay, Llandudno, Caernarvonshire, Wales
Major Teams: Northamptonshire, Glamorgan, England.
Known As: Austin Matthews
Batting Style: Right Hand Bat
Bowling Style: Right Arm Fast Medium
Only Test: England v New Zealand at The Oval, 3rd Test, 1937
Career Statistics:
TESTS
(career)
M I NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct St
Batting & Fielding 1 1 1 2 2* - 0 0 1 0
O M R W Ave BBI 5 10 SR Econ
Bowling 30 8 65 2 32.50 1-13 0 0 90.0 2.16
FIRST-CLASS
(career: 1927 - 1947)
M I NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct St
Batting & Fielding 281 447 70 5919 116 15.70 2 14 124 0
Balls M R W Ave BBI 5 10 SR Econ
Bowling 47983 1931 19099 816 23.40 7-57 45 6 58.8 2.38
- Explanations of First-Class and List A status courtesy of the ACS.
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Austin Matthews played county cricket initially for Northamptonshire in 1927, after declining an opportunity to join
Glamorgan. However, he left the Midlands county in 1936, and for a short left the world of professional cricket to coach
at Cambridge University and Stowe School. He returned to his family`s home in Penarth in 1937, and agreed to help out
Glamorgan who were missing several key bowlers through injury. Quite remarkably, he was playing Test
cricket barely three weeks after making his Glamorgan debut.
His remarkable elevation followed an impressive spell of fast swing bowling against the New Zealanders, and a return of
14/132 against Sussex on a good batting wicket at Hastings. He was drafted into the England side for the Third Test at
The Oval, and duly dismissed Walter Hadlee in both innings.
Matthews had been a talented young sportsman in the mid-1920`s, playing club cricket for Cardiff and rugby for Penarth. In
fact, the winter game initially showed more potential openings for the tall all-rounder, and he won a place in a final
Welsh trial. After finishing his studies, Matthews accepted an offer to join Northampton R.F.C.
He continued to play club cricket with success in the East Midlands, and he subsequently made his first-class debut for
Northamptonshire in 1927. The prospect of a lucrative career in professional cricket, and the unlikely prospect of a Welsh
rugby cap, resulted in Matthews switching back to cricket, and retiring from rugby. He became Northamptonshire`s
regular opening bowler, and as befitted a strong rugby player, Matthews also proved to be a fierce hitting lower-order
batsman, making a career best 116 against Warwickshire at Edgbaston in 1929.
Matthews appeared for Glamorgan from 1937 until 1947, and in 1946 enjoyed a vintage summer as county cricket resumed after
the wartime break. Matthews claimed 88 wickets, and proved to be almost unplayable in the right conditions, taking 7/12
against Somerset at Pontypridd and 9/23 in the match against Sussex at Horsham.(Submitted by Andrew Hignell - June 2000)
Last Updated: Monday, 29-Jul-2002 16:18:16 GMT
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